CHAPTER 28

The next morning the Starks missed Sunday school and were in a rush to make it to the church service. Charlotte made the decision to go along as she didn't have anything else to do. She hadn't been in a church in a very long time. She and her father used to go with her grandma when she'd been alive. That had been twelve years ago.

Alice watched as Charlotte applied eyeliner. "Why you putting that on?"

"Because " she paused to think about the question " it makes me look pretty.

"Yuck."

She ignored that as she reached for the pink strapless sundress with the tiny white band across the top of the bodice she'd planned to wear in Dallas at the party- minus the white, capped-sleeved jacket. She never wore the jacket, but she would do so today out of modesty.

Alice's gaze was fixated on Charlotte.

"You have funny underwear."

"So I've been told." She wriggled into the tight-fitting dress.

"Why are you wearing that?"

"I want to go to church in a dress."

"It's too short."

"Charlotte pulled at the hem, which was way above her knees. "You think so?"

"Yep."

Charlotte always thought the shorter the better. For Horse-shoe, her thinking might have to change.

"I don't have anything else."

"Wear your slacks like me."

Alice had traded her jeans for black slacks and a white blouse.

"Let's go!" John called.

"No time." Charlotte said, slipping into a pair of white shoes. She touched up her lipstick and combed her hair with a brush. She took her jacket and followed Alice.

John and Haetel glanced at her, but neither said a word, which was just as well. Charlotte didn't want to remind them this wasn't 1960.

It took less than two blocks to get to the church. It was a traditional white clapboard structure with Gothic windows, precisely like the old country churches she had read about in magazines. A crucifix was placed atop a steeple that had a bell tower and stretched upward.

On one side, more recent rooms had been added. They were connected by a covered walkway.

As they got out of the car the bell clanged loudly.

"Jimmy Hornsby overdoes that bell," Hae muttered as they went up the wooden steps and through the double doors.

The church had pews on both sides and was somewhat small. The wooden floor's centre was covered in a red carpet that led to the pulpit. Hae hurried to the organ on the left, and Charlotte followed John and Alice into a pew. The church was filling up and the parishioners' stares felt like darts in her back. She resisted the urge to pull down her skirt.

Hae began to play and the choir walked in, followed by the pastor. The choir began to sing. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and the congregation quickly joined in. Pastor Roland Johnson began to speak after a few more hymns. He discussed how to live each day in faith and love in accordance with God's Word. The message was powerful, Charlotte had to admit.

The preacher then emphasized the importance of children learning the Bible at a young age and the upcoming start of summer Bible school.

The chapel was filled with melodious voices as Haetel turned up the organ once more. Charlotte didn't have a hymnal, so she didn't sing along, but when they sang "The Old Rugged Cross," she couldn't resist. She loved that song and her voice rang out.

Suddenly she realized she was the only one singing.

'Oh, no! What have I done?'

Alice stared up at her, her mouth gaping. John and the rest of the congregation gazed at her with strange, startled looks.

"I'm sorry," she said automatically, but she didn't know what she was sorry for. Singing without permission maybe?

"Ms. Lily, please don't apologize," the pastor said. "That was lovely.

"Oh. Thank you." No one had ever complimented her voice before, and it made her want to burst into song again.

The congregation made their way outside and paused on the lawn to visit with one another. People didn't seem to be glaring at her so much. Could one song do that?

"Hae, are you ready for Bible school?" Pastor Johnson asked.

"I suppose. I just wished we had more volunteers. Kids from the outlining farms and ranches will be coming?"

"Getting help is such a problem." The pastor shook his head.

"We still haven't gotten those rooms painted, either, but the Lord will provide all we need."

"I might have the solution to your problem," John said. "I'll let you know tomorrow."

They left but didn't head for the car. Instead, they circled the church and entered a white picket-fenced cemetery. John unlocked the gate, and the family and Charlotte entered. Although several of the grave markers were weathered and aged, John stopped at one that was only a few years old.

Charlotte saw the name Sarah Stark's, and backed away. This was too private and personal. She then noticed that it was a twin stone that had John's name carved into it. She wasn't particularly surprised by "John Presley"; she had nearly anticipated it.

The day of his death was all that the stone required.

There was something so wrong about that, but she couldn't explain it. She did know a man his age shouldn't be waiting to etch the day of his death on a headstone. She turned and made her way to the car.

She noticed Haetel had left to visit another grave, which was likely Johnny's and her husband's. She wondered if they did this every Sunday. It couldn't be healthy for any of them, especially Alice.

Charlotte tried to put the image out of her mind, but it stayed with her. The Starks were stuck in the past, unable to move forward.

John and Alice went fishing later that day. Charlotte played poker with Hae and her friends, Sharon, Winston and Arya.

At first the atmosphere was tense, but then Hae said, "She's got money and we're gonna take it, girls. So ante up." Hae shuffled the cards. "And when she loses, she has to model her underwear."

"Hae!" Charlotte was taken aback.

"Which kind of underwear?" Sharon was curious.

"You won't believe." Hae dealt the cards. "And if one of us loses, I guess we'll have to model our baggy drawers."

"Fair's fair." remarked Charlotte.

In the end she lost amidst a lot of laughter. She showed her thong, but not the one she was wearing.

"Oh, my God, it's like a slingshot." Winston stared at the scrap of lace and spandex.

"Ol' Vern might have stayed around a little longer if I had worn pants like that." Arya commented.

"Or have a permanent wedgie," Hae told her.

More discussion followed and Charlotte laughed until her sides hurt.

Hae did, too.

Charlotte wiped away tears of joy; she didn't feel like an outsider anymore.